The target was the “Dirty Dozen” – the most common items found littering our beaches. This was part of a collaboration between WWF and SASSI, the Beach Co-op and Twyg to launch a month-long #PlasticFreeMzansi campaign asking people to give up three of the Dirty Dozen items, namely earbuds, plastic bottles and chip packets.

And the results were astounding.
 
During the course of the morning, the group picked up 74.5kg of waste in 10 full bags. The most common of the Dirty Dozen turned out to be straws (1339), cooldrink lids (1237) and individual sweet wrappers (961).

Further down the list, but still in unacceptable numbers, were lollipop sticks (646), and earbuds (628). (Tip: many pharmacies and stores stock paper-based earbuds which are a better alternative.)
 
Other items like chip packets (174), cigarette lighters (63), water bottles (59), cooldrink bottles (48), carrier bags (24), fishing line(19) and lightsticks (6) also featured.

It was interesting to see how many of these common items so often associated with pleasure and leisure find their way into the sea.
 
So, here’s our challenge to you for July and beyond: Give up plastic earbuds, water bottles and chip packets for a #PlasticFreeMzansi.